Roel is in Taiwan this summer

Split from "Belated Happy 4th July"

You go to university at 16, and now at 18 your studying one of the most difficult languages in the world have way across it. What can't you do ?

Makes want to apply myself for once, lol

 

Sing.

Also, just because I'm studying Chinese, doesn't mean I can speak it...

 

Hey Roel,what made you decide to do what you are doing?

 

I've been interested in Chinese language and culture for many years but I never really got around to studying any of it. Last year, though, I felt an urge to do something entirely different and challenging next to my regular history studies, so I took up Chinese as a side subject. It turned out I really enjoyed the challenge and the atmosphere in the group I studied with, so I felt it would be a shame if I stopped studying the language after just one year, but there was no follow-up program to the side subject. This is mostly what made me decide to go to Taiwan for the Summer School session in the NTNU in Taipei.

Of course, wanting to go somewhere new and exciting definitely played its part in the decision, as well as my reluctance to spend yet another summer in my room (and potentially Norway, but still). The fact that all the part-time jobs I've had this year have earned me quite a bag of money didn't hurt either, especially with the exchange rate and all.

 

Other than your studies,you've surely gone on walkabout!Let's hear about it.

 

What do you want to know, Ed? I could ramble on for hours, but I'm sure most of it isn't interesting.

 

What did you see or do that was cool?

 

To study it, still. You must have a good understanding of language arts to begin with

 

(apologies for breaking the page, will resize pictures when I get home)

Basically, what I did that was cool was going to Taiwan, because this country as a whole is pretty cool. Taipei, where I'm staying, is by far the coolest place I know. People are helpful, friendly, and hospitable; everything is really cheap; the food is really good; the city is made to make life in it as convenient as possible; and I haven't met anyone yet who disliked me because I am a foreigner (except one American).

The city's most widely renowned cool place is, of course, Taipei 101.

From the 92nd floor of this place, the view is quite cool too.



Another famous cool place in Taipei is the amazingly cool National Palace Museum, inside of which it is actually way too cool (they seem to want to show off their air conditioning abilities - 34 degrees C outside, maybe 20 degrees C inside).


Of course, I am but a simple country boy from the Western Netherlands, born in a town with less than 150,000 inhabitants, so any big city is a pretty cool place to me. Still, cities like this one in East Asia have their own crazy charm.




And then there's cool places outside of Taipei itself, such as National Park Yangmingshan:



Nearby aboriginal township Wulai and its cool mountainous landscape:




Nearby coastal city of Keelung:

(also quite cool at night)


Finally it is quite cool to be a tall white guy in Taiwan


Here's my cool and also quite international class with its cool teacher wishing one of my best friends a happy birthday (in lieu of me actually being in the Netherlands to celebrate it with him). Chinese characters by yours truly


It's all pretty cool I'd say!

 

Tall white guy... and you claimed to be too busy to dally with women!

 

* Takes a look at the second-last photo, and heads off to Taiwan *

 

Oh! my! god!
They have actually made a full grown clone?
It's the only possibility I see, because this guy looks just like Roel, but surrounds himself with women, thus it CAN'T be Roel.

About souvenirs though... I don't suppose one of those 4 would fit in your suitcase?

 

I was wondering when we'd get around to the Taiwanese honies!Way to go Roel!
Great pics by the way.

 

Shame on all of you! Shame!

I give you a whole ton of pictures and the only thing you all pick up on is the one that has the girls in it... I might add that by Taiwanese standards they're not even particularly good-looking.

The one on the far right of that picture wanted to meet me because she wants to study in the Netherlands next year. There's more like her as well.

 

Picky picky...

 

Roel

"What a waste"! (waist?)

 

Them other pics were nice and all,and we appreciate your efforts,but ya got any more pics of the babes?

 

:roll:

To those desperate for images of Taiwanese ladies, until I get to my next round of uploading, you'll just have to satisfy yourself with a Google search for "Jolin". Might I add that you will all burn for your sins?

Meanwhile, I, the Dutchman, will hang my head in shame afore the Chinese.

...Yes, they are quite proud of the fact that they kicked the Dutch off the island in the 17th century. It makes sense, too, because the only thing we left them is funny-looking forts.


Whereas they themselves are capable of creating rather elegant structures.


More scenery from the north coast of the island: